Packages



Get. 15, 1957 o, FOWLER, JR 2,809,747

PACKAGES Filed April 6, 1955 INVENTOR.

United States Patent PACKAGES George Oliver Fowler, 31:, Long Branch, N. J.

Application April 6, 1955, Serial No. 49,624

6 Claims. (Cl. 206-48) This invention relates to packages, such as those used for cigarettes, cigars and tobacco, and the provision for a means of attaching match folders to the packages.

The object of this invention is to provide, for use at the option of the consumer, a means whereby several different types of match folders may be easily attached to a package of cigarettes, or the like, in such a manner that the matches may be used conveniently. An additional object is to utilize the match folder, when attached to a package which has a hinged cover, to lock the package cover closed.

The package shown in the drawing, being of cardboard construction, is of a type very suitable for demonstrating this invention, but is used for illustrative purposes only. It will be understood that the features, or portions thereof, of this invention are not limited to the package shown but may be readily adapted to many other types of containers.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a common type of match folder and a package of cigarettes. One of the methods of attaching the match folder to the package is indicated by dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cigarette package with the match folder attached. The match folder is shown in its lowermost position; the uppermost position is shown in dotted outline.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a different type of match folder, one having the striking surface on the back, and a package of cigarettes. The method of attaching this type of match folder to the cigarette package is illustrated by dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cigarette package with the match folder attached and in its lowermost position. The uppermost position of the match folder is shown in dotted outline.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a package of cigarettes and illustrates a modification.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a package of cigarettes showing a further modification of the invention.

The reference numerals used refer to the same part in each figure of the drawing.

The match folder 1, in Figure 1, is of a common type, having a cover flap 2 which folds over the matches 3 and is retained by a small lower flap 4. A striking surface 5 is provided on the front of the retainer flap 4 for the purpose of igniting the matches.

The cigarette package 6 illustrated in the drawing, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, is of cardboard construction and has a hinged cover 7 forming the end of the package. The package has a slot 8 which is slightly longer than the width of a normal match folder. The slot 8 is located on the front of the package, is parallel to its to and is near the open upper end 9 of the main body of the package. The cellophane outer Wrapper which normally encases cigarette packages is not shown since it would be removed in order to use this invention.

As indicated in Figure 1, the cover flap 2 of the match folder 1 is inserted into slot 8 and threaded behind the strip 10 of the package formed between the slot 8 and the upper end 9 of the main body of the package. When the cover flap 2 is pushed behind the package strip 10 it will emerge at the open end 9. The cover flap 2 then may be pulled through until it can be closed, as shown in Figure 2, thereby attaching the match folder to the cigarette package by means of the package strip 10. When attached as described above, the match folder 1 can be moved vertically to the uppermost position shown in dotted outline in Figure 2. The vertical movement of the match folder is limited in one direction by the folded over portion of the cover flap, and in the other direction by the binding staple 11, one of which will abut the package strip 10 when the match folder is in either its lowermost or uppermost position.

When the match folder 1 is placed in the uppermost position or in any position intermediate to those shown in Figure 2, it will interfere with the opening of the package cover 7. If normally carried in such a position, the match folder will tend to prevent accidental opening of the package in the pocket or in the purse.

Figure 3 illustrates the method of attaching the match folder to the package in an inverted position. This is accomplished by inserting the cover flap 2 first into the open end 9 of the main body of the package, behind the package strip 10, and then out the slot 8. When the cover is pulled on through until stopped by the staple 11, and closed, the match folder will be in the position shown in Figure 4.

While the latter method of insertion is possible with the ordinary match folder 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is particularly well suited for the type of match folder 12 which has its striking surface 5 on the back, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. When the match folder 12 is moved to its uppermost position, indicated in dotted outline in Figure 4, the striking surface 5 extends beyond the upper edge of the package and is exposed for use. The inverted match folder 12 can also be positioned intermediately to guard against accidental opening of the package as described previously. It will be apparent that this locking feature can also be obtained by attaching the match folder in a sliding position on the rear Wall of the package in such a manner that the folder in its upper position similarly prevents the package cover from being opened, yet in its lowest position permits opening of the package.

Figure 3 also illustrates that the match folder can be attached to the package even if the package cover is closed. This is true regardless of which of the above methods of inserting the cover flap is used.

Figure 5 shows a modification whereby slot 8 is extended by perforations 13 to the edge of the package so that the user, if he desires, may enlarge the slot 8 by tearing along the perforations to accommodate match folders of a wider type. A second slot 3:: is spaced parallel to slot 8 to provide a strip ltia which is utilized in the same manner as strip 16 of Figs. 1 through 4. It will be noted that the slots 8 and 8a are vertically spaced to such an extent as will enable a folder of matches to be vertically movable when the cover of the match folder is attached to the package by means of strip 10a. In this manner the folder of matches when extended in uppermost position on the package will prevent cover 7 from opening.

Similarly, slots 8 and 8a may be provided on the rear wall of the package 6 as illustrated in Fig. 6. Thus when a match folder, inserted through slots 8 and 8a of Fig. 6, is extended above the hinge line of the cigarette package, the package top is prevented from rotating about the hinge line, and is thus secured in a locked position. By provision of two slots 8 and 8a as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the present invention becomes readily adaptable for use on packages which are not double-walled.

V In addition to the featuresdescribed above, thisin: vention offers an additional advantage in that the package acts as a base or platform for the match folderpfacilitating the handling and use of the folder. Furthermore, the arrangement is such that the user, as a matter of convenience, will be inclined to close the match cover before striking the match.

I claim: 7

1. In combination, a walled cigarette package having a front wall and a top for opening and closing an open end of said package, said'top being hinged at the rear thereof about a horizontal axis on the rear wall of said package and provided with a flat extension perpendicular to said top at the front thereof, the front wall of said package being provided with a slot, said slot being parallel and adjacent to the lower front edge of said hinged top, said slot forming a retaining strip in said front wall between said slot and said open end,

a match folder being slidably engaged with said package for vertical movement in relation'thereto for sliding into juxtaposition with said fiat extension, said match folder having a cover flap, said flap being passed behind said retaining strip whereby said vertically slidable folder in uppermost position locks said top in closed position and in lowermost position frees said top for swinging to an open position. 7

2. In combination, a walled cigarette package having a front wall and a flat surfaced top for opening and closing an open end of said package, said top being hinged about a horizontal axis on the rear wall of said package and having a wide front edge normalto said flat surface, the front wall of said package being provided with spaced slots, said slots being parallel and adjacent to the lower front edge of said hinged top, said ,slots forming a retaining strip in said front Wall, a match folder being slidably engaged with said package for vertical movement over said front edge for locking said hinged top at the wide front edge thereof, said match folder having a cover flap, said flap being passed behind said retaining strip whereby said vertically slidable folder in uppermost position cooperates with said top to lock said package top in closed position and in lowermost position frees said top for swinging to an open position.

3. In combination, a walled cigarette package having a rear wall and a top for opening and closing an open end of said package, said top having a rigid wide rear edge being hinged at said rear edge about a horizontal axis on the rear wall of said package, said rear wall being provided with spaced slots, said slots being parallel and adjacent said hinge axis, said slots forming a retaining strip in said rear wall, a match folder having a cover flap, said flap being passed behind said retaining strip whereby said vertically slidable folder in uppermost position cooperates in juxtaposition with said top rear edge to lock said package top in closed position and in lowermost position frees said top for swinging to an open position.

4. in combination, a match folder and a cigarette package having front, back and bottom walls and a swinging top hinged to the package back and having a rigid extension thereon coplanar with said package front in a closed position of said top, portions of the front 4 wall of said package defining a slot arranged parallel to and adjacent the coplanar extension of said top, said match folder having a cover flap opening on the front of said folder and a striking surface on the rear of said folder, said folder being slidably engaged with said package for vertical movement in relation thereto, said flap extending through the open end of said package and through said slot, said slot being positioned at a predetermined distance from the uppermost surface of said package such that the striking surface of said match folder when closed and in its uppermost vertical position extends above the top of the package and across said coplanar extension. V

5. In combination, a match folder and an open-ended, walled cigarette package, said package having a front wall and a hinged top for opening and closing the open end of said package, said top having a front wall fixed relative to said top opposite the hinge thereof, the front wall of said package being provided with spaced upper and lower slots arranged parallel to and'adja'cent the lower front wall of said top, said match folder having a cover flap opening on the front of said folder and a striking surface on the rear of said folder, said folder being slidably engaged with said package for vertical movement in relation thereto, said flap extending down- Wardly through the upper and lower slots, said lower slot being positioned at a limited distance from the uppermost surface of said package whereby the striking surface of said match folder when closed and in its uppermost vertical position extends across the front Wall of the top and above the top of the package. 6. In combination, a match folder and an open-ended, walled cigarette package having a front and a back, said package having a box-shaped top, said top having a back hinged at the back of said package for opening and closing the open end of said package, the back of said package being provided with spaced upper and, lower slots arranged parallel to and adjacent the front edge of said top, said match folder having a cover flap opening on the front of said folder and a striking surface on the rear of said folder, said folder being slidably engaged with said package for vertical movement in relation thereto, said flap extending downwardly through the upper slot and extending through saidlower slot, said lower slot being positioned at a limited distance from the uppermost surface of said package whereby the striking surface of said match folder when closed and in its uppermost vertical position extends above the top of the package and over the back of said box-shaped top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

